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Most people definitely become wiser with age. Maybe the results are skewed because millennials are a particularly wise generation which have to deal with increa

Most people definitely become wiser with age. Maybe the results are skewed because millennials are a particularly wise generation which have to deal with increasingly complex social, economic and environmental problems and this forces them to think more and ask more questions. Also, the internet has given millenials a big advantage in terms of finding information. It's not fair to compare one generation with another completely different generation; we need to track people from the same generation over a long period of time in order to get meaningful results.

stretchwithme 8y ago
I think it's because the wise live longer. Even if they are declining, the average tends to stay the same. Wisdom is mostly about paying attention and adapting, not all about accumulating experience, as new things keep coming and rendering much of your experience (with things, not with people) irrelevant. It's complicated.
- leesec 8y ago
  "I think it's because the wise live longer." I think this is false and based on nothing.
- Just_Smith 8y ago
  Why do you believe that the wise live longer? That seems a hasty conclusion to come to, especially when the age you live to can be influenced by factors that wisdom can't circumvent.
  - stretchwithme 8y ago
    I think wisdom helps you live your life successfully and avoid unnecessary risks. And avoid Darwin awards. Not understanding how things work can get you killed. Or you can die younger from smoking, drug abuse or not eating your vegetables. The alternative is thinking that choices don't affect how long you live and I don't think that makes sense.
icholy 8y ago
> millennials are a particularly wise generation that rubbed me the wrong way
jasonbarrah 8y ago
This study is from 1999, before the internet as we know it, and long before children walked around with smartphones in their pockets. Its also very clear from you answer that you are a young person. I wonder if your answer will change when you are 75?

stretchwithme 8y ago

I think it's because the wise live longer. Even if they are declining, the average tends to stay the same. Wisdom is mostly about paying attention and adapting, not all about accumulating experience, as new things keep coming and rendering much of your experience (with things, not with people) irrelevant. It's complicated.

leesec 8y ago
"I think it's because the wise live longer." I think this is false and based on nothing.
Just_Smith 8y ago
Why do you believe that the wise live longer? That seems a hasty conclusion to come to, especially when the age you live to can be influenced by factors that wisdom can't circumvent.
- stretchwithme 8y ago
  I think wisdom helps you live your life successfully and avoid unnecessary risks. And avoid Darwin awards. Not understanding how things work can get you killed. Or you can die younger from smoking, drug abuse or not eating your vegetables. The alternative is thinking that choices don't affect how long you live and I don't think that makes sense.

icholy 8y ago

> millennials are a particularly wise generation that rubbed me the wrong way

jasonbarrah 8y ago

This study is from 1999, before the internet as we know it, and long before children walked around with smartphones in their pockets. Its also very clear from you answer that you are a young person. I wonder if your answer will change when you are 75?